WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Bush v. Kerry

Bush v. Kerry

Burlington, Vermont - May 5, 2004

All the figures were bad for President Bush. John Kerry has nearly twice the favorability rating of the President and Mr. Bush's unfavorable rating was 16 points higher than Kerry's.

Vermonters do not think much of the President's job performance either. Even before the current problems with soldiers guarding Iraqi prisoners, Mr. Bush's performance rating was 35% good and 48% fair and 14% think it is poor.

So, the bottom line is if the election were held today, Kerry would take 51% of the vote to Mr. Bush's 36%. Ralph Nader is a relatively inconsequential factor at this point.

"Mr. Bush is in trouble in Vermont. The big problem for him is: not only does he lose to Kerry, and Kerry is over 50%, but Ralph Nader's possible candidacy would not have an effect at this point. Even though Nader has 4%, Kerry not only leads the president, he leads him with 51%. The other problem is he is not liked by Vermont voters. He's got very low favorables, and very high unfavorables, and his job disapproval rating is over 60%, while only 32% approve oft he job he is doing," says Del Ali with polling firm Research 2000.

We asked a number of questions about Howard Dean. Even though he is our native son, most Vermonters do not want to see him as the Vice Presidential candidate.

"There is this passion that they want to win and unfortunately for Howard Dean, and even though there is some sentiment for a native son, I think the poll shows that Vermont voters want to be sure they can win and they don't see Dean as an asset. They see him as a liability to a John Kerry candidacy."

Tune in to Channel 3 at 11 tonight to find out what Vermonters think about the war in Iraq.

Marselis Parsons - Channel 3 News